Instead, clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the desires of the flesh. Romans 13:14Encouragement for the Bride of Christ to be prepared for His return.

Friday, January 13, 2017

As Christ Loved the Church

Today I am sharing a post written last month for Layout for Today about God's design for families, including male and female roles. These days a great many people, including many Christians, support equal rights. This devotional looks at that topic from a biblical view. My purpose is to speak the truth, not to tell people what they want to hear even if it doesn't line up with the Bible. The intention is not to step on toes or lump all situations together, but to simply summarize what God said. My job is not to force anyone to do God's will or examine anyone else to determine their compliance. That is between each believer and God. This is a resource for use by those who desire to know what God had to say on the topic. In behaviors where it is not a matter of choice, but sin if we go against it, then that is for the believer's local church body to handle in love and gentleness.

If anyone is offended, I hope they will pray about it so that if God is convicting them of something that He would like them to change, they don't miss the opportunity. If anyone has a clear conscience, then they should have no reason to feel judged or any need to defend themselves. God sees inside our hearts and knows our intentions. I would use caution, though, if we have accepted the ways of the world and think that He has made an exception for us. He is known to be consistent and orderly, not showing favoritism and not changing. If we are not disciplined when we go astray, then the Bible says that we are illegitimate children. Better to be corrected and accept it, most definitely!

Welcome

Be Ready

Kids' scouting clubs have a motto to "always be prepared." Excellent advice, right? There's one thing that is CRUCIAL for ALL of us to be prepared for, and that's eternity. No one escapes their appointment with their Maker, whether it's upon death or upon the return of Jesus. (Heb. 4:12-13)

The Bible contains very helpful descriptions of what we should "put on" (i.e. clothe ourselves in) to be like Christ in Eph. 6:10-20 and 1 Thess. 5:5-8 (full armor of God), Col. 3:5-17 and Eph. 4:17-24 (the new image/self being renewed by knowledge of the Creator).

This page is dedicated to helping believers be ready. Unbelievers cannot please God, because that requires faith. (Heb. 11:6, Rom. 8:7, John 3:18, John 3:36) However, when we believe that Jesus is our Savior AND Lord, that means something more than being saved from hell. (Rom. 10:8-11) If we LOVE Him, that means something more than being saved from hell. If we LOVE Him, it's the beginning of following Him, obeying Him, serving Him. (Matt. 16:24-27, John 12:25-26, John 14:15-24, 2 Tim. 2:19-22) God has prepared wonderful things for those who love Him. (1 Cor. 2:9)

If you are a believer, but your life doesn't appear any different than the world around you, then this is your wake-up call to examine yourself in light of the truth in the Bible--to be sure that you really are clothed and ready for our Savior's return. We need to encourage each other in these last days to keep our lamps burning brightly for the world so they can see to escape the darkness and seek refuge in our God, salvation through the only Savior, while they can.

“Then the kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went to meet the bridegroom. Five of them were foolish, and five were wise. For when the foolish took their lamps, they took no oil with them, but the wise took flasks of oil with their lamps. As the bridegroom was delayed, they all became drowsy and slept. But at midnight there was a cry, ‘Here is the bridegroom! Come out to meet him.’ Then all those virgins rose and trimmed their lamps. And the foolish said to the wise, ‘Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.’ But the wise answered, saying, ‘Since there will not be enough for us and for you, go rather to the dealers and buy for yourselves.’ And while they were going to buy, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went in with him to the marriage feast, and the door was shut. Afterward the other virgins came also, saying, ‘Lord, lord, open to us.’ But he answered, ‘Truly, I say to you, I do not know you.’ Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour." Matthew 25:1-13

The night is far gone; the day is at hand. So then let us cast off the works of darkness and put on the armor of light. Let us walk properly as in the daytime, not in orgies and drunkenness, not in sexual immorality and sensuality, not in quarreling and jealousy. But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to gratify its desires. Romans 13:12-14

We believers (brothers and sisters in the Lord, the Body of Christ) need to encourage one another to walk "in a manner worthy of our calling." God has work for us to do. (Eph. 2:8-10, John 15:8, Heb. 10:23-25, Titus 3:8)

Layout for Today

You are welcome to visit my other blog, which I began in 2014. I post a digital scrapbook page with a Bible verse for each day. There are also many devotionals I have written available in free pdf downloads on the page tab there, or if you are interested in reading without downloading, click on the label "message" on the sidebar. Thanks!

About Me

I live in Wisconsin and have been married thirty years. My husband and I have two adult children. In my walk with God, I have progressed from always believing in God in general, to believing Jesus is the Son of God as a child, to believing I need Jesus as my Savior as a wife and mom with young children, to finally realizing that Jesus is my all in all--more worthy than anyone and anything in the universe--as a wife and mom of grown children. Jesus told the church at Laodicea that He despises lukewarm believers and that was what I was for too many years. I attended church, volunteered, donated money and goods and held moral beliefs, but I didn't read my Bible daily or pray unceasingly. My prayers were mostly about protection of loved ones. I wanted benefits from God more than I wanted God for Himself. It was very sad, but I didn't really know it at the time. So my quest is to wake up other lukewarm believers who are like I was, while there's still time to avoid bitter regret (and no doubt tears) over their lack of love for our Savior. I believe we are in the end times, and we need to encourage each other to be strong and faithful. I enjoy studying the Bible in depth and spend much of my "free" time doing so. Thanks for visiting me here and reading my thoughts on the Scriptures and their application to the times we live in.